Shortly after Christmas, someone commented in one of my Facebook fitness groups whether anybody was doing “Dry January.” I had heard of Dry January — abstaining from alcohol for the month of January — but had never done it. Dry January wasn’t something I had planned, but it sounded like exactly what I needed, especially after a bit too much imbibing over the holidays. I was already planning to focus over the new year on health and weight loss, and ridding my body of toxins and alcohol seemed just what I needed to hone in on those goals.
Dry January is best done with a tribe to cheer you on.
Several others in that group were also interested in Dry January, and someone started a subgroup for it. Suddenly, I had a tribe. The positive energy and support among them were phenomenal. The group was mostly women but also contained a few men. Everyone had the same focused goal: no alcohol for the month of January.
Because of the pandemic, I had no temptations to go to bars or parties, so the only thing I needed to do was remove temptations in my house. Therefore, on December 27, I drank my last glass of Irish whiskey and planned to start the month early.
In the days that followed, I spent some time bonding with the other members in the Dry January group. Most everyone had downloaded the “Try Dry” app, so I did too. It was motivating seeing the calories and money saved by not drinking; cheering on the other members; and exchanging suggestions, tips, and recipes for alcohol-free drinks.
I stocked up on vitamin and herbal supplements
The evening I started, I searched the Internet for the best supplements to take during an alcohol detox. I read a blog by one doctor who recommended a particularly expensive multivitamin, “Metabolic Synergy” by Designs for Health. At $90 for 180 capsules, it was way more expensive than I had ever spent on a supplement. But I figured, what the hell, it was in an investment in my health, and wouldn’t I be saving money by not buying alcohol? I also bought milk thistle, which is said to support your liver. Another blogger touted rhodiola rosea for energy and ashwaganda for anxiety. I had already been taking Super You by Moon Juice, which ticked both of those boxes, so I continued with it.
I also read a bit about mucuna pruriens, a tropical legume also known as velvet bean or cowhage which is a natural source of L-Dopa, a precursor to dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is active in the brain’s “reward center” and often considered the brain’s pleasure chemical. I learned that alcohol tricks us because at first it increases dopamine levels in the brain so we think it is causing pleasure. The effect is that a person keeps drinking to get more dopamine, and that results in altering other brain chemicals that can enhance feelings of depression. The more a person drinks, the less dopamine is released. Low dopamine can cause lack of motivation, depression, and trouble sleeping.
I also read that mucuna pruriens contains antioxidants that work synergistically with L-Dopa to create an enhanced sense of well-being. I figured, why not give it a try? I was careful, however, not to take it every day because I also read that a person can get hooked on the desire to for more dopamine.
Essentially, I ended up with a smorgasbord of supplements — possibly more than others who do Dry January would use. But when I decide to do something, in the words of Peloton’s Jess King, I don’t half-ass it; I use my “whole ass.”
I stayed inspired with self-help books
Some of the members suggested books. One early suggestion was Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker. After reading the description and a few reviews, I downloaded it to Audible. Over the next few weeks, I listened during my short commute to work and while preparing breakfast for my office cats and then for myself. It’s a self-help book, and, as the title says, from a woman’s perspective, and I connected to its feminist tone.
It was a fascinating and eye-opening read, as Whitaker (it’s also read by the author) talks about how toxic alcohol really is and how much of society is pressured by “big alcohol” to consume more and how our culture perceives alcohol use and abuse. Listening for just 15 minutes a day was truly inspiring, and I have to give a lot of credit to that book for me losing any desire to drink throughout the month.
Sleep became paramount.
The first few days were a little annoying, but I was so motivated to adopt a healthy lifestyle for the new year that my enthusiasm for health outweighed my annoyance. On New Year’s Eve, I went to sleep early. Again, with the pandemic, there really was not much incentive to party.
The first thing I noticed in my dry January adventure was my desire for sleep. Sleep is, of course, part of any good health program, so I tried to sleep as much as possible, and I really embraced sleep. My body craved sleep and I gave it what it wanted. My sleep patterns improved, and I ended up sleeping about an hour more each night.
I enjoyed mocktails, kombucha, and herbal teas
I also discovered mocktails. I was surprised and had not known that the industry had gotten so big. There are alcohol free tequilas, gins, and whiskeys. At first, though, I was much more interested in herbal teas and drinks mixed with adaptogens. I had already been consuming various Moon Dusts through Moon Juice, and blending them in with teas or coffee drinks, but Dry January gave me an incentive to step up my adaptogen-beverage game.
My favorite relaxing nighttime beverage became cooled kava tea mixed with ginger beer. It didn’t have quite the same effect as Irish whiskey, but it still relaxed me and was pleasurable to drink. In my last cup of the night, I would blend in some Dream Dust and a little Magnesi-Om to really help me sleep soundly.
Eventually I also began trying different kombuchas, fermented teas with a bit of probiotics. I had tried kombucha a few years prior but had never climbed full-force onto the kombucha train. However, in just a few years, the kombucha market had blossomed with innumerable flavors to choose from. I realized I liked kombucha best in small quantities, blended with flavored sparkling water, and sometimes garnished with fruit pieces or even a sprig of fresh mint. A perfect mocktail!
Dry January was the best thing I could have done for my health
Dry January was not the only thing I was doing for my health; I had also (for a second time) started the weight-loss program Noom, though this time was committed with a newfound internal motivation for complete health. I figured the calories saved from avoiding alcohol combined with my own calorie tracking through Noom would be only a win-win, and it was.
Being alcohol-free every night really enabled me to focus on health 100% and forgo the snacking and munchies that having a drink or two sometimes encourages. I focused on listening to my body and going to bed at a reasonable hour every night. Gradually, I was losing weight. It was not a huge amount or a rapid loss, but it was happening, and, by the end of the month, I had lost ten pounds.
I was already exercising regularly, so for the most part I continued my same exercise habits. Even though I did not increase my exercising, a week or two into Dry January, iPhone alerted me that my resting heart rate had decreased. A low resting heart rate is supposed to be an indicator of good health. Several others in my Dry January group also mentioned that their resting heart rate decreased, too.
Dry January even made me look better
My skin started looking better, also. I downloaded the Selfie-A-Day app and started taking a selfie every day. Not a typical selfie with makeup, cute poses, or smiling — a straight-on, stoic selfie so I could compare my face as the month progressed. The daily selfies made me a bit more self-conscious of my face, and I started paying better attention to my skin-care routine. My skin became more glowy, less ruddy, and less puffy.
I also paid more attention to oral hygiene and was very careful to brush and floss every night, habits that will make my dentist and dental hygienist proud.
Overall, Dry January was the best way I could have started out the new year. It was not just about skipping alcohol but, rather, a holistic approach to my health and well-being. Throughout the month, I focused entirely on my personal health — from the inside out. I became much more introspective and thoughtful about my own wellness. None of it felt like a month of deprivation; rather, it was a month of growth and transformation (and I even used those words when tracking my habits in my bullet journal).
I did not make a plan to stay dry forever, but did decided to roll into “Dry February” as I continue through my health goals because, frankly, one month is not enough to make myself into the best person I can be. I’ve also decided that, regardless of what path I take thereafter, I will continue to make Dry January a regular event, and it will always be a month to reset, regroup, and take care of me.
